Spring-wheel.



W. A. CRAWFORD-FROST.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLIUATION MLBD 00T. z?, 1911 im 3. m. w am m. pm j@ ne. im m u, wMa-E,.- a A VMAU nm QQ/d 1 w@ WILLIAM' A. CRAWFORD-FROST, 0F BALTIMORE,MARYLAND.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rat-enten sepas, 1913.

Application filed October 27, 1911. Serial No. 657,016.

To all Awhom it may conce/'a Be it known that I, VViLLniu A. GRAW l'ivoiin'ltiais'ig a citizen -ol the United States,

' having a yieldable tread which will possess all the qualities of apneumatic tire with the advantages of a solid tire.

The invention comprises a wheel having i concentric rims which arespaced apart and between which are arranged cushioning devices, thespaces between the'rims being closed at their sides by means of guardsto prevent foreign matter, such as mud, dust, Water and the like,interfering with the cushioning devices and the interposed connectionsbetween the rims.

Broadly considered the invention provides a construction which enables amodified use in the capacity of a buli'er for relieving the impactincident to the stoppage of bodies when in motion. The construction issuch that when the invention is adapted for use as a buii'er it may beapplied to automobiles, water-craft, locomotive engines, cars or thelike so as to relieve the shock when the impact occurs.

The invention consists of thenovel teatures, details ot construction andcombination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly setforth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in theappended claim.

Referring to the drawings, formin a part of the specification, Figure 1is asi e view, parts broken away, of a spring wheel einbodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line xof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview showing the invention adapted for use as a buffer. y Correspondingand like parts are referred to in the following description, andindicated in all the views of the drawijngs', by the same referencecharacters.

The Wheel proper may be of any 'onstrnction such as commonly providedfoivehicles. 'lhe tire consists of an inner rim and ,an outer rim 2between which are interposed guide and cushioning devices.'r The innerlrim 1 may consist of the ielly or rim proper ot' the wheel and mayl beof any form in cross section. The outer riin 2 is spaced lfrom the innerrim and may likewise be ol any torin'in transverse section. It is to beunderstood. that the tread portion of the outer rim or tire may be ofany 'l'orm according to the result to be attained. The rinis l and 2 aretransversely curved, the convex sides facing outward. Rods 'l0 aresecured in any manner to the outer rim 2 and pass loosely throughopenings formed in the inner' i-im 1. These rods 10 serve as guides todirect the outer rim in its movements and to retain it in properposition. Two sets of -rods'fi are provided and are located uponopposite sidesl of a medial line. The inner ends of the rods 3 havestops 4 which may consist of nuts mounted upon threaded portions ot therods. Helical springs 1l are mounted upon the rods l() between the innerand outer rims. the cushioning devices which sustain the load, saidsprings being of helical form and expansible so as to exert an outwardpressure upon the rim 2. Guards G close the sides of the space formedbetween t-he inner and the outer rims. The guards 6 are of annular`t'orm and their outer edge portions contorni to side portions of therim 2 and are rigidly connected thereto in any manner. The inner edgesof the guards or rings 6 are bent inwardly, as indicated at 7. Theguards 6 may be riveted to the rim 2.

The rim 1 has bosses 9 in line with the openings through which theffuide rods 10 pass, said bosses projecting inwardly and outwardly fromthe rim and having the openings outwardly flared from a middle point.The guide rods 10 are located in the plane of the spokes of the wheel,thereby enabling single rods lbeing employed. Springs 11 and 12 aremounted upon the guide rods 1() and are arranged upon opposite sides ofthe rim 1, the springs' l1 being exterior to the rim 1 and between saidrim and the outer ri'm 2, whereas the springs 12 are located upontheinner side of the rim 1 and between said rim and the hub of theWheel. The'springs l1 sustain the load or impact, Whereas the springs 12compensate for the rebound. The springs 11 and 12 are of helical formand expansible.

The guide .rods 10 are connected, at' their,

These springs constitute,`

as Well as to prevent binding between the guide rods and the rim 1-. Therods 10 have' 'While the openings flare in the plane ot' the wheel theyare of uniform Width so as to prevent any lateral play of the guiderods.

The uards or rings 6 are secured at their outer edges to the rim 2 inany manner.

In the modification shown 1n Fig. 8 the inventionis illustrated asadapted .to a structure capable of use as a buffer for relieving theshock incident to the stoppage of moving' bodies, such as vehicles,Water-craft, or rolling railway stock. The rims 1 and 2 are havingpivotal connection With the outer formed on arcs of circles and mayconsist of curved supports, the part 2 sustaining,- the impact and thepart l receiving the thrust of the shock absorbing springs 11 and 12which are inountedupon the guide rods 1.0.

From the forego-ing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invent-ion appertains, and While I have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with the device whichI -now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and

'that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope orthe cla-im appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:-- Y

'A cushioning device comprising inner and outer spaced rims, the innerrim having openings and formed with bosses in line with the openings,said bosses projecting from opposite sides of the rim and towingopenings therein outwardly flared from a middle point in the plane ofthe rim, rods rim and passing loosely through the open ings of the saidbosses, and expansible lielical springs mounted upon tlgle rods'onopposite sides'of the inner rim.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. MANLEY, IVILLIAM E. SCHUL.

